(Photo by Gwen Sour) Skylar Bogan, center, unloads shoeboxes full of supplies with some help at House to Home on Tuesday afternoon.

PARKERSBURG — What began as a child’s simple question about people living under a bridge has grown into a 16-year tradition of giving, as Skylar Bogan this week donated 100 shoeboxes filled with essential supplies to House to Home on Tuesday.

Bogan delivered the shoeboxes to House to Home, where board president Michele Rusen said the project has been part of the organization’s holiday season for more than a decade.

“When I got involved with the board again, this little girl — Skylar — had already started bringing these shoeboxes every year,” Rusen said. “She’s kept it up through graduating high school, graduating college and getting her master’s degree. She’s just really devoted.”

Rusen said the boxes are especially meaningful for people who may not otherwise receive gifts during the holidays.

“They don’t get presents under a tree, by and large,” Rusen said. “So it’s something — and it’s practical things. It’s another little box of goodness.”

(Photo provided) A team of volunteers created an assembly line of supplies at Strong Tower Fitness to put the shoeboxes full of supplies together.

The same day Bogan delivered the shoeboxes, representatives from St. Joseph’s Recovery also visited House to Home to provide cookies for clients. Andrew Alvarez, an Intensive Outpatient Program therapist with St. Joseph’s Recovery, and Ellisha Seabolt, an Intensive Outpatient Program peer support specialist, said the visit was part of ongoing efforts to support people experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges and substance use disorders.

“A lot of people out on the streets right now are struggling with mental health and substance use,” Seabolt said. “During these times, you don’t even get thought about.”

Bogan, now an adult and a therapist, said the shoebox project began in 2010 when she was 10 years old.

“We were driving over the Fifth Street Bridge, and I saw some tents under the bridge,” Bogan said. “I asked my mom what was going on there, and she explained that some people don’t have it the way that I have it. I wanted to come up with a plan so that I could help.”

Each shoebox includes a mix of food and cold-weather essentials, such as sweet and salty snacks, sandwiches, drinks, hats, gloves and socks. This year’s boxes also included toiletries, scarves, flashlights, batteries and small comfort items.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) Skylar Bogan, right, hands out the shoeboxes full of supplies to House to Home clients on Tuesday afternoon.

Bogan said the group packed the boxes at Strong Tower Fitness, where she works, with help from community partners and donors. She credited both local businesses and out-of-town supporters, noting that more than half of this year’s monetary donations came from outside the area.

“We packed 100 boxes and drove them down here,” she said. “For the recipients, it’s kind of like their gift. A lot of these people aren’t going to get Christmas gifts.”

Rusen said House to Home continues to see strong community support and encouraged residents who want to help to donate items that are consistently needed.

“We always can use blankets and coats,” Rusen said. “Men’s and women’s socks are always welcome. Paper towels and things like that. Food donations have been pouring in — our community really is so giving.”

Bogan said the shoebox project never really ends.

“We collect shoeboxes all year,” she said. “It’s not Christmas until we do the project.”

Those interested in supporting the effort year-round can donate through PayPal at bogesboxes@gmail.com or find more information on Facebook under “Skylar’s Shoebox Project.”